Destiny Takes Shape

Chu Bai sucked in a sharp breath.

In this dynasty world, where every pursuit ranked beneath officialdom, Principal Ninth Rank might only be the starting point, but it was already the finish line countless people dreamed of reaching.

It meant drawing an imperial salary, enjoying the protection of the Heavenly Court's fortune, and becoming a true immortal cultivator who could live for two hundred years!

He had never imagined his master had taught someone like that.

"From now on, you're my sixth disciple, and for the moment, my last." Daoist Zhang patted the back of Chu Bai's hand. "With your senior brothers and sisters ahead of you, don't let our school's reputation fall."

The scent of tea curled through the quiet room.

Having performed the formal rites of apprenticeship, Chu Bai was now a true personal disciple. Daoist Zhang's expression softened. With a casual wave of his hand, several objects appeared out of thin air on the low table.

"You've entered my school. I can't leave you without a welcome gift."

Daoist Zhang pointed to the objects and introduced them one by one.

First was a black wooden token about the size of a palm, edged in gold. The words "Tranquil Heart" were carved on its front, while an intricate cloud pattern covered its back.

"This is my token. Anywhere in Anping County, whether at a government office or the marketplace, showing it is as good as appearing there in person. If some petty troublemaker gives you grief, this should help."

Chu Bai accepted it with both hands. The token felt heavy in his palm, more like iron than wood. Its material was clearly extraordinary.

This was no mere token. It was a talisman that would open doors throughout Anping County!

Next came a neatly folded blue robe.

"This Azure Cloud Robe doesn't quite qualify as a magic artifact, but it was woven with a little spirit-silkworm silk. It keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, repels dust and grime, and is tough enough that ordinary blades can hardly damage it. You're a scholar and a cultivator. You can't keep wearing coarse homespun clothes."

Last was a lustrous jade ring.

"This is the Tranquil Heart Jade Ring. Wearing it helps calm the mind and quiet stray thoughts. You're at the crucial stage of gathering spiritual energy and pushing toward Qi Refining. Restlessness is the last thing you need, so this should serve you well."

Chu Bai looked at the gifts, moved beyond words.

His master had not given him miraculous pills or some peerless cultivation manual, but every item had been chosen with the needs of a newly accepted disciple in mind. Each was immensely practical.

"Thank you for your generous gifts, Master!" Chu Bai bowed again.

"One more thing." Daoist Zhang waved a hand, as though mentioning something trivial. "Now that you're my personal disciple, we can waive the inner academy's tuition. If you have questions about cultivation, come to me whenever you wish. There's no need to wait for lesson hours."

The tuition was waived!

Chu Bai jerked his head up, his eyes growing hot.

That was ten taels of silver! It was the boulder weighing on his parents' hearts, keeping them awake at night. With a single sentence, his master had lifted that mountain away.

"Master, I'll... never forget your kindness!"

Even after leaving Daoist Zhang's residence, Chu Bai felt as though his feet barely touched the ground.

He pressed a hand against the token and jade ring tucked inside his clothes. Their solid presence made him want to throw back his head and howl.

Without delay, Chu Bai went to the market, bought another plump old hen, and carried it home.

By the time he arrived, cooking smoke was rising from the houses.

"Dad! Mom! Wonderful news!"

Chu Bai called out as soon as he stepped through the courtyard gate, his face alight with a smile brighter than any he had worn before.

"What is it? What happened? Did you find money?" Li Qing, who had been feeding the pigs, hurriedly set down the scoop, wiped her hands, and came over.

Chu Bai handed the old hen to his mother, then solemnly took out the token and the Azure Cloud Robe and placed them on the wobbly square table.

"Dad, Mom, Daoist Zhang... took me as his disciple! A real personal disciple!"

"What?!"

The long-stemmed pipe slipped from Chu Xianglin's hand and hit the ground with a clatter. He made no move to pick it up. Instead, he stared wide-eyed at the gold-edged token, his hands trembling. "You mean... that Daoist Zhang, the one who's like an immortal, took you as his disciple?"

"He did!"

Chu Bai told them exactly how the apprenticeship had gone, including his master's decision to waive the tuition.

When he finished, the room fell briefly silent.

Then Li Qing covered her mouth, and tears spilled down her cheeks. They were tears of joy.

"Good... that's wonderful! I knew my son would amount to something!" Chu Xianglin's eyes reddened too. With a trembling hand, he stroked the fine robe as though it were a rare treasure. "Now we don't have to pay those ten taels. Our family's days of hardship... they're finally over!"

Those ten taels had been like a noose around the whole family's necks. At last, the rope had snapped.

That evening, the mood around the dinner table was livelier than it had been the last time they ate meat.

The family sat together around the table. The old hen had been stewed until the meat fell from the bones, filling the room with its aroma.

Chu Bai ate his fill. He was celebrating, but he was also preparing to cultivate.

After dinner, he returned to his room without lighting a lamp.

By the moonlight spilling through the window, he fastened the Tranquil Heart Jade Ring at his waist.

A faint coolness spread from his waist at once. His mind, still stirred by the day's excitement, grew calm as water in an instant.

"What a treasure!"

Chu Bai sighed in admiration, then sat cross-legged and began circulating the Lesser Qi-Gathering Art.

As he breathed in and out, the old hen in his stomach became a surging warmth that was swiftly broken down and absorbed.

Before, at most thirty or forty percent of the food's energy would have been converted into vital essence. The rest would have been expelled as waste.

This time was different.

Chu Bai could clearly feel the warm currents being guided by some mysterious force. His body greedily drew them in like a whale swallowing the sea, converting them at a staggering rate!

Nor was that all. The route along which spiritual energy circulated, once difficult to grasp, had become perfectly clear. Where it should flow quickly and where it should slow—his body seemed to know the best path by instinct.

Hum—

Deep in his mind, the familiar panel gave a faint tremor.

At a thought, Chu Bai focused on it.

In the destiny column, the flickering line of text marked "unformed" had finally solidified completely, giving off a faint golden glow!

[Acquired Destiny: Food Injury Leaks Elegance, quick-witted (active)]

(Note: Blessed with refined talent and a ceaseless flow of ideas. Greatly increases comprehension, efficiently converts consumed energy into cultivation, and boosts cultivation speed by fifty percent!)

"It worked!"

Joy surged through Chu Bai.

He circulated his energy through another full cycle, then checked his proficiency.

In the time it took to eat one meal, his progress in the [Lesser Qi-Gathering Art] had jumped by two points!

That terrifying increase, plain to see, made him clench his fists and savor the strength filling his body.

"No tuition to pay, a way to earn money, a great master—and now even my cheat has been upgraded."

Chu Bai gazed at the bright moon beyond the window, a wild gleam in his eyes.

"Now it's time to charge ahead at full speed!"

"I'll show everyone what a... true genius looks like!"